One of the first looks at how the economy is doing in the New Year shows a further upturn in business conditions across the U.S. manufacturing sector, but the overall rate of improvement eased further from last August’s peak.

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in November for the 18th consecutive month, but at a slower pace, according to the nation’s supply executives in the latest survey by the Institute for Supply Management

A measure of where the American economy is headed in the next three to six months shows conditions are improving, but not as fast as they have been, according to the private research group The Conference Board.

A measure of the strength of the U.S. manufacturing sector was unchanged this month from August, but remains strong at a 52-month high, according to a new report released Tuesday morning by the financial information services provider Markit Economics.

The total value of shipments in the heavy-duty truck manufacturing business have increased the most of three vehicle classes over the past five-years, according to new 2012 Economic Census statistics released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in June for the 13th consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 61st consecutive month, according to the Institute for Supply Management.

Manufacturing activity expanded throughout the nation with a notable improvement along the East Coast. Growth was particularly strong for several Distracts related to motor vehicles, aerospace, and metals. Both non-residential construction activity and commercial real estate markets were generally steady to stronger since the last report.

New orders for manufactured goods were up for the third consecutive month in April, rising 0.7% to $499.8 billion. April was at the highest level since the series was first published on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 1.5 percent March increase.

UPDATED -- Three newly released reports suggest the American economy may finally be shaking off the winter doldrums that brought business activity down in the first quarter, with expectations of improvements well into the year.

Economic activity in the U.S. manufacturing sector expanded in March for the 10th consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 58th consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.